Dental articulating devices



Jan. 21, 1964 v, R. TRAPOZZANO 3,118,230

DENTAL ARTICULATING DEVICES Filed May 25, 1962 INVENTOR VINCENTR.TRAPOZZANO BY 6 W 93% ATTORNEY 3,118,230 DENTAL ARTICULA'IING DEVIQESVincent Rudolph Trapozzano, 3%9 Central Ave, St. Petershurg 11, Fla.Filed May 25, 1962, Ser. No. 197,643 8 Claims. (Cl. 32-19) Thisinvention relates to dental articulating strips, sometimes called highspot markers.

Conventional articulating strips commonly employed by dentists formarking high spots on the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth andthe incisal edges of the anterior teeth are thin straight and flatstrips of thin paper coated on both sides with a vegetable wax mixedwith harmless coloring matter. The dentist positions the articulatingstrip between the occlusal surfaces or incisal edges of the upper andlower teeth and the patient is told to bite the strip and upon removalof the strip from the mouth, the high spots on the teeth are marked withthe colored coating material so that the dentist may opcrate properlyupon these high spots by grinding them down, etc. Difiiculty isexperienced in the use of these conventional paper or cloth articulatingstrips in that they are diflicult to position properly with relation tothe teeth and they tend to move readily from their proper positions andrequire handling and constant adjustment by the dentist. An even moreimportant disadvantage of the conventional strips is that they tend towrinkle or become crimped adjacent the occlusal surfaces and incisaledges of the teeth, resulting in inaccurate high spot marking and otherdifficulties. Sometimes the conventional cloth or paper articulatingstrips are made horseshoe-shaped to conform generally to the shape ofthe dental arch, but these thin fiat strips are still subject, to agreat extent, to the above-mentioned difiiculties and are not entirelysatisfactory.

Another procedure employed at the present time for the same purpose isto introduce strips or sheets of wax material between the upper andlower teeth and to have the patient bite the wax material which, afterremoval from the mouth, indicates the high spots on the occlusalsurfaces or incisal edges by the relative degree of penetration of theteeth into the wax material. This penetration method does not mark theteeth and is a much more inaccurate method of indicating the high spotsbut possesses the advantage over the aforementioned paper and clothmarking strips that the wax strips do not tend to move relative to theteeth or to wrinkle or become crimped. Sometimes the wax strips hear anadhesive coating on one side thereof for adherence to the teeth and theadjacent soft tissue structure of the gums, and the wax strips in thisinstance may be wrapped over the tooth or teeth to be tested. However,as stated, the wax penetration method of indicating the high spots onthe teeth Without directly marking the teeth is inferior to the methodof marking the high spots directly with coloring material.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a dentalarticulating device which overcomes completel the above-mentioneddeficiencies of the prior rt by the provision of means having theadmirable qualities of each of the aforementioned hi h spot testingmethods without the disadvantages or deficiencies inherent in the same.

More particularly, the object of the invention is to rovide preformed ortailored articulating strips to he made in various sizes and segments tofit over the posterior and anterior teeth and to remain properlypositioned without movement during use and without the tendency forwrinkling or crimping adjacent to the occlusal surfaces and incisaledges of the teeth, and being capable of directly marking the high spotsof the upper and lower Patented Jan. 2 l fil ice teeth, either naturalor artificial, by means of coloring material.

Another object of the invention is to provide tailored articulatingstrips or segments having scalloped or ser rated marginal flanges whichmay be reinforced for stiffening the structure and coated on their innersides with adhesive, if preferred, and tending to eliminate allwrinkling or crimping and to prevent unwanted movement of the stripsrelative to the teeth.

A further and more general ohiect of the invention is to provide dentalarticulating devices or strips, the use of which will save a great dealof the dentists time and render much more uniformly accurate result inindicating the high spots on the teeth, regardless of whether the teethbeing tested are the posterior teeth or the anterior teeth.

Another object is to provide dental articulating strips of theabove-mentioned character which may be formed of various materials orcombinations of materials such as pape linen, silk, and syntheticfabrics, and which may be made in various colors to mark the teethaccordingly.

Further objects are to provide articulating strips which are inexpensiveto manufacture, easy to use and reliable and eflicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a posterior segment of a dentalarticulating strip according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the same during use, partly diagrammatic,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the articulatingstrip segment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2,

ilGURE 4 is a similar cross sectional view showing a modification of theinvention,

FEGURE 5 is a perspective view of an anterior segment of the dentalarticulating strip according to the invention,

FZGURE 6 is a top plan view of the same illustrating its use inconjunction with the anterior teeth, and

FZGURE 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the strip segment shownin FEGURES 5 and 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first toFIGURES 1 through 3, wherein the numeral it designates generally apreformed posterior segment of a dental articulating strip formed ofpaper, natural or synthetic fabric, or the like. The segment it? issomewhat irregular in shape, as shown, to conform generally to thecurvature of the dental arch adjacent to the molars and bicuspids. Morespecifically, the segment 1% includes a flat horizontal wall 21 adaptedduring use to engage between the occlusal surfaces of the posteriorteeth including the molars and bicuspids as shown approx mately inFIGURE 2. The flat wall 11 is coated on both sides thereof as indicatedat 12 with a conventional vegetable wax substance containing a harmlesscoloring material for marking the high spots of the occlusal surfaces ofthe posterior teeth. The coating material is conventional andwell-lniown in the art.

The segment It further comprises substantially vertical downturned sideflanges 13, integral with the horizontal Wall 11 and foldable withrelation thereto along longitudinal fold lines 14 extending for theentire length of the segment 16. The segment it} therefore constitutesan open ended channel-like member of somewhat irregular cross sectionadapted to fit over the lower posterior teeth during use as shownapproximately in FIGURE 2.

fold lines 1%, as showu, thcrebelow.

Pref rably, as shown in Figure 3, the depending flanges 3.3 are somewhatthicker than the horizontal wall 11 to increased rigidity or s ifness tothe channel-like structure and to prevent u .Qiing or crimping of thefiat wall 11 whi engages the occlus..l surfaces of t e teeth. Thisincreased thiclruess for the flanges 13 may be achieved in different we.such as by laminating additional strips of paper, or other material tobasic sheet material from w the segment is constructed or by othe v isebu -auges 13 to increase the thickness and stren The scallopedconstruction of the flan es 13 prevent the same from wrinkling orcrimping dur 1g the bending thereof and this construction allows flangesto conform to the curvature or" the dental arch without c imp ng orwrinkling.

As shown in :16 l and 2, the rear portion of the channel-shaped segment1% is wider than the forward portion thereoi to accommodate therelatively wide molars. The relatively narrow forward portion of thesegment is designed and shaped to accommodate the bicuspids which arerelatively narrower than the molars, as shown. in the region of thesegment designated A, FIGURE 1, the fiat wall ll is of substantiallyuniform width between the flanges 13, whereas in the region designate.B, the fiat wall 11 becomes gradually narrower toward the forward end ofthe segment lit and the shape or curvature of the segment is non-u.irorm as indicated to conform to the natural dental arch. The overallheight or depth 05 the channel-shaped segment 19 is preferably uniform,as shown.

The inner faces of the side flanges 13 may be coated at 17, FIGURE 3,with a well kuown adhesive composition to allow the flanges to adheresomewhat to the sides or" the to th and adjacent soft tissue of thegums. This further aids fixedly positioning the articulating strip orsegment relative to the teeth during use.

FIGURE 4 shows cross section a modification of the segment designated1%. The channel-shaped segment lb may be formed of such as linen, sill:or the like, and includes a top =-tal Wall ll, coated on both faces at12 with waxy material employed to mark the teeth, SCi'ibiCl previouslyin connection with FIGURES l?:. The depending flanges 13 0f the segment19', FIGURE 4, are reinforced and stiffened upon their i1--.er faces bystiil" strip elements 18, formed at" paper or the lite, and securedthereto adhesively, by stitching or by other suitable means. The flangesl3 and their reinforcing str ps 13 are scalloped in the identical193M553: shown and described in connection with FIGURE 1 aud for thesame purpose.

The flanges is serve to p sition the segment ll? upon the teeth withoutwrinkling of the fiat wall 3?. in the same manner described inconnection with FIGURES 1-3, and all other parts of the invention shownin FlGURE 4 are otherwise identical in construction and operation withthe corresponm. g parts shown and described in connection with FIGURES 1through 3. if desired, the interior faces of the stilleuiag str'ps becoated with adhesive in the same manner an for the purpose specified inconon with the adhesive coating 27 in FIGURE 3. PiGURES 5 through 7 showa preformed anterior segment or" a deuta articulating strip forapplication to the anterior teet for testing and locating high spots onthe t This anterior segment is designated may be formed in its ermaterials mentioned The construction incisai edges 'rrereoi. on a H 1 4a v an it) enera; y tic numeral rentirety of d and mode of use of thesegment i; is generally similar to that of the posterior segment ill.The segment 19 includes an arcuate flat horizontal wall 29 to engage the:incisal edges of the lower and upper anterior teeth, and "t iis wall iscoated upon opposite sides as at 21, FTGURE 7, with the waxy coloredtooth marking material previously mentioned. The segment 1% ischannel-shaped and open ended to fit over the anterior teeth as shown inFIGURE -6 sad includes depending vertical side flanges 22, integraltherewith, and foldable along longitudinal fold lines 23 adjacent theopposite arcuate edges of the fiat wall 29. The flanges 22 are serratedor scalloped throughout their lengths in approximately the mannerpreviously described V teeth, a greater number of tapered projections 24and a correspondingly greater number of alternate oppositely taperingrecesses 25 are formed upon the side flanges 22, with the tops of theproiections and recesses terminating approximately of an inch or thelike below the fold lines 23, as shown. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, theanterior segment 19 is symmetrical about its center of curvature and ofsubstantially uniform idth between the side 22, as distinguished fromthe irregular shape and curvature of the posterior segment it The sideflanges 22 may be formed somewhat thicker than the flat wall 20 torender the device more rigid and more resistant to wrinkling andcrimping, or the side flanges 22 may be reinforced by separatelaminating strips in the same manner described in connection with FlG-URES l3 and FTGURE 4. The interior faces of the flanges 22 may be coatedwith adhesive at 2. 6 in the same manner and for the purpose describedpreviousl in the prior forms of the invention. The anterior segment 19of the articulating device maybe formed of various materials other thanpaper as previously stated.

Both the posterior and anterior segi rents 19 and 19 may be manufacturedin various sizes to meet the requirements of tooth size and dental archstructure encountered with various dental patients. In any event, thepreformed posterior segments it? and anterior segments 19 will beconstructed in the manner shown in the drawings to accommodate theposterior and anterior teeth and to conform approximately to the averageshape of the dental arch in these regions, and variations will be insize only and not in structural shape or mode of use.

During use, the posterior segments 1% or the anterior segment 19 may beconveniently applied by dentist over the upper or lower posterior teethor upper or lower anterior teeth as found desirable, FIGURES 2 and 6.The adhesive coated side flanges of the channel-like seg- :ments maycontact the sides or the teeth and/ or the gum tissue to further fixedlyposition the segment relative to the teeth. The patient is instructed tobite naturally upon the fiat coated wail ll or 2% of the segment betweenthe occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth or between the incisaledges of the anterior teeth. Upon opening of the mouth and removal ofthe segment or it or 19 by the dentist, clear markings are made upon thehigh spots, it any, of the teeth by the colored coating material 12 or21.

There is little or no tendency for the segments 10 and 19 to shiftrelative to the teeth during the above testing operation because thesegments are contoured to fit the teeth and to conform to the curvatureof the'den-tal arch, as stated. Likewise, there is no tendency for thecoated flat wail ll or 2 6 to wrinkle or become crimp-ed, due to thechauuel-lilce formation of the segment and the strengthening orstiffening effect of the scalloped side flanges l3 and 22. Thus, theinvention completely overcomes the most glaring defects of theconventional fiat articulating strips which are subject to much movementand wrinkling during use and yet successfully utilizes the mostadvantageous feature of the conventional strips in directiy mark ng theteeth with coloring material. In like manner, the invention eliminatesthe defect of conventional Wax impression strips which are somewhatinaccurate in detecting high spots by measuring the degree ofpenetration of the wax, and the invention also achieves the advmtage ofthe Wax strips in that the invention does not tend to move or becomedisplaced during use. The nonovrinkling and non-crimping characteristicof the present invention afi'orded by the scalloped side flanges 1.3 and22 and the tendency for the working wall or surface directly between theteeth to remain flat is a characteristic of the invention which cannotbe achieved by any of the known prior art dental articulating means.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention -erewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred exarnples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeor" the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A dental high spot marker comprising an elongated longitudinallycurved element formed of sheet material and being channel-shaped incross section and having a rnm'n flat web for disposition between themeeting faces of upper and lower teeth, tooth marking material onopposite sides of the main flat web for directly high spots on the upperand lower teeth, the channelshaped element including longitudinal sideflanges projecting beyond one face only of said web and being scallopedthroughout the length of the flanges to form thereon a multiplicity ofalternating projections and spaces.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein said sides flangesare formed of thicker material than said web.

3. The invention as defined by claim 2, and an adhesive coating on theinner faces of said side flanges for adherence to the side walls ofteeth and adjacent gum tissue.

4. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein said channel-shapedelement is formed in its entirety from thin sheet material, andseparately formed relatively stiff rein-forcing strips secured to saidside flanges to reinforce the same and to render the side flangesrelatively stiff.

5. A posterior dental articulating segment for testing 6 high spots onthe posterior teeth compri ng a unitary strip body portion formed ofsheet materi l and being substantially channei-shaped in cross sectionand having a main web for disposiuion between the occlusal surfaces ofthe upper and lower posterior teeth and dependent scalloped side flangesadapted to straddle the lower posterior teeth during use, coloredcoating material on the opposite faces of said main web adapted tovisibly mark high spots on said occlusal surfaces, said channel-shapedstrip body portion being irregularly curved and tapering somewhat forwarly from its rear end toward its forward end to conform substantially tothe shape of the dental arch along the posterior teeth and toacornmodate the relatively wide mole-rs near the rear end of the bodyportion the relatively narrow bicuspids near the forward end thereof.

6. The invention as defined by claim 5, and adhesive material on theinner faces of said side flanges.

7. An anterior dental articulating segment for testing high spots on theanterior teeth comprising a unitary strip body portion formed of sheetmaterial and being channel-shaped in cross section and having a main webfor disposition between the incised edges or" the upper and loweranterior eeth and dependent scalloped side flanges adapted to straddlethe iower anterior teeth during use, spot coioring material on theopposite faces of said main web, said channel-shaped body portion beingsubetantially uniformly curved throughout its length to conform to thecurvature of the dental arch adjacent the anterior teeth, the sideflanges being substantially uniformly spaced along the length of saidbody portion to accommodate the anterior teeth between them.

8. The invention as defined byclaim 7, and an adhesive coating on theinner faces of the side flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,910,740 Barsha May 23, 1933 1,979,493 Salvio Nov. 6, 1934 FOREIGNPATENTS 837,437 Germany Apr. 28, 1952

1. A DENTAL HIGH SPOT MARKER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLYCURVED ELEMENT FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL AND BEING CHANNEL-SHAPED INCROSS SECTION AND HAVING A MAIN FLAT WEB FOR DISPOSITION BETWEEN THEMEETING FACES OF UPPER AND LOWER TEETH, TOOTH MARKING MATERIAL ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MAIN FLAT WEB FOR DIRECTLY MARKING HIGH SPOTS ONTHE UPPER AND LOWER TEETH, THE CHANNELSHAPED ELEMENT INCLUDINGLONGITUDINAL SIDE FLANGES PROJECTING BEYOND ONE FACE ONLY OF SAID WEBAND BEING SCALLOPED THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE FLANGES TO FORM THEREONA MULTIPLICITY OF ALTERNATING PROJECTIONS AND SPACES.